Washing machine



Dec. l2, l950 Filed Nov. 9, 1946 C. F. EMMERT ET AL WASHING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Dc. l2, 1950 c. F. EMMERT Erm.

WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9. 1946 INVENmRs: 62a, Ifo/zFE//zmff Wi', a2/2z ffoadcf Patented Dee. l2, 1950 i uNlTED STATESPATENT OFFICE mismo melma:

Clayton l". Emmert and William Il. Stouder, Newton, Iowa, assignors toAutomatic Washer Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Dela-Application November 9, 1946, Serial No. 709,050

` cnam. (ci zio-s3) 'I'he present invention relates to washing machineand apparatus in general utilizing relatively high speed tubs or basketsparticularly in the water extraction cycle thereof and provides a meansfor counterbalancing off center and unbalanced loads which producevibration and structural strains which are both troublesome andannoying. The present design may be applied to any apparatus adapted forrelatively high speed rotation carrying mixed loads including fiuids andwherein the loads are capable oi' shifting to cause an unbalancedrelationship introducing offset inertia stresses which introduce theunwanted vibration.

One of the main objects, therefore, is to provide a washer, preferablyof the automatic cycle type having a high speed rotating tub or basketadapted forwater extraction during a certain period oi' the cycle, andto provide means which reduces the vibration in the main frame andcabinet of the machine to a minimum under loaded conditions duringacceleration, full spinning speed, and during deceleration.

`Another object of the present invention is to provide a means which iscapable oi' counterbalancing varying oil' center loads up to thecapacity of the load handled by the tub or basket of any type of spinnerregardless of the kind of apparatus used for agitation or whether suchapparatus is present or not. With the proposed construction, thecounterbalancing force varies with the olf-center loads as the lattervary so that the counterbalancing means and mechanism is adapted toexert a relatively small offset counterbalancing force when the machineload is relatively well balanced, and by the same token, if the machineload is greatly out of balance, the counterbalancing apparatus alsoexerts a proportionately greater counterbalancing force reducing theoffset and out of balance loads to a minimum.

It is another object of the present invention to utilize a portion ofthe liquid load in the tub or basket to provide the necessarycounterbalancing means, and in the quantities which are directlyproportional to the magnitude of the unbalanced load, using only anadditional jacket, chamber, or other receptacle for confining suchcounterbalancing fluid which adds substantially nothing to the totalweight of the machine considering the entire weightaof the unit as awhole in contrast with the additional jacket used for the counter- Y 2employed in some washers, and also the load upon the braking mechanismto slow down and stop the spinning tub or basket is also considerablylessin that the rotational inertia is not as great in the present lightweight construction as it would be in machines using heavy rings orother additional shiftable weights for counterbalancing purposes. Allthis tends to reduce the time cycle since the acceleration to spinningspeed is accomplished in less time and the deceleration of the rotatingmechanism from spinning speed to a full stop is also accomplished inless time reducing this portion of the time cycle.

It is another object of the present invention to mount the tu'bstructure lupon a rotating shaft fectively in counteracting any extremeoribtal movements of the shaft and tub or basket.

- Y All other objects and advantages shall hereinafter appear in thefollowing detailed description having reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial cross sectional view of a preferredconstruction of washing machine embodying theprinciples set forth by thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of the washer illustrated in Fig. 1 andsubstantially as viewed along the plane of the line 2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the spinning mechanism including v,thetub, drive shaft and resilient supporting mechanisms therefor.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine is illustrated somewhatdiagrammatically as an automatic cycle machine of the cabinet typehaving an outer decorative and ornamental cabinet l supported uponsuitable legs 2 having non-skid pads or feet 3 for steadying the cabinetupon a surface supporting the same. The power means comprises a motor 4suitabh' supported upon the cabinet walls and adapted for driving a belt5 by means of the shaft 6 carrying a pulley 1, the belt 5 beingconnected to a pulley 8 forming the driving element of a transmission 9which is pf a conventional type adapted for either oscillating the tubshaft lll or for driving the same unidirectionally at a relatively highspeed for water extraction purposes. A brake band II encircles thehousing of the transmission 9 and 'is controlled by an electricalsolenoid i2.

The particular type of transmission herein disclosed is more or lessdiagrammatically shown since it actually forms no part of this inventionexcepting. to furnish a means for driving the shaft I in one directionor acting to oscillate the same. A brief explanation of the workingfunctions thereof is submitted. The solenoid I2 normally sets the bandinto operative braking position holding the casing of the transmission 9in fixed position. When this condition prevails, the motor 4 isenergized to rotate in one direction driving the belt 5 and pulley 9 tooperate the internal mechanism of the transmission which is designed tooscillate the shaft I0 at this time. The spinning cycle is started byreleasing the brake band and by simultaneously reversing the 'directionof operation of the motor 4. The transmission 9 contains an overrunningtype of clutch coacting with the pulley shaft and which is adapted toactively engage the shaft when the motion of the latter is in onedirection. This acts to rotate the pulley shaft and the transmission 9bodily so that the same rotate together at the same speed and at a speedat which the motor 4 drives such elements through the means of the beltdrive 5. The overrunning clutch is of a centrifugal type whicheliminates initial shock or torque so as to permit the entiretransmission and the drive shaft of the tub to reach a gradual spinningspeed without overloading the driving motor 4. The various operations ofthe motor 4 and the solenoid I2 and the other working parts of themachine such as the mixing valves for hot and Coldwater and the drainingvalves are all solenoid controlled and operated from a -suitable mastertimer which automatically controls the entire cycle of operation of themachine and its individual operating mechanismsi Obviously, such cyclicfunctions may be manually controlled or such manual controis may beinterposed into the automatic timing system for flexible operation ofthe machine.

The tub or basket I3 is suitably secured and carried upon the upper endI4 of shaft I0 by the securing means I5. The lower end of shaft I0 issupported'and rides in a bearing I6 suitably carried in a flexiblerubber mounting |1 secured to the casing I8 which is flxedly supportedby a spider I9 having its ends secured to the walls of the cabinet I.With this particular arrangement, the shaft I0 together with itssupported tub I3 may flex out of the normal vertical position thereofalthough the bearing means supporting the lower end thereof is normallycapable of maintaining the shaft I0 and tub in a vertical relation withrespect to the bala-nce of the machine as indicated in full lines inFig. 3. The dot and dash axis 65 also signifies this true verticalrelationship while the dotted lines 66 angling with respect to thebearing I9 show olf-center axis to which the tub, etc., may lean inrotating an out of balance load without counterbalancing. This structureactually is analogous to a spinning top and gyroscopic action would tendto hold this unit vertical or tend to move same into a vertical positionas a direct aid to the counterbalancing mechanism.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, a peripheral sump or drain chamber isformed beneath the tub I3 by means of the annular base 2| having theinner peripheral upstanding flange 22 and an outer peripheral upstandingflange 29, the

assai latter being suitably welded or otherwise secured to the walls ofthe cabinet I. Any convenient type of drain conduit such as 24 which issuitably valve controlled communicates with the chamber 20 for drainingthe Water out of the sump into suitable connections to discharge suchwater into the normal house water draining system.

A snubbing mechanism generally indicated at 25 connects at a point nearthe upper end of the shaft I0 and cooperates with the under surface ofthe annular base 2| of the sump for counteracting any forces which wouldtend to throw shaft I0 oil of its normal vertical axis of rotation aspermitted by the bottom bearing I6 and its mounting I1.

This snubbing mechanism may be of various designs and may be constructedto best fit the problems of a particular machine. In the present design,as illustrated in Fig. 1, this snubbing device is made in the form of across providing a spider, two of its arms 26 and 21 being shown in Fig.l, and such arms having depending ends 28 and 29 respectively. Springs90 are connected at 9| between the lower portions of the depending armends 28 and 29 and are fastened to the under side of the annular base 2|to normally hold and urge the snubbing means upwardly and in thevertical direction of the machine. Each of the spider arms such as 26and 21 are provided with studs 92 carrying pads 99 faced withantifriction material such as 94 which is adapted to press against theunder surface of the annular base 2| for frictional contact therewithand are so maintained through the instrumentality of the springs 99.

The central portion of the cross or spider providing the arms 26 and 21of the snubbing device 25 includes aA housing 95 which confines anannular rubber bearing 96 that is molded to the shaft bearing 91 so thata flexible connection is established between the bearing 91 and the armsof the snubbing/device 25. l

Thus, with the above described snubbing device 25, the latter is capableof maintaining the shaft I0 in substantially vertical position renderingopposition to any lateral forces which would tend to move such shaft outof coincidence with its normal vertical axis of rotation which actionis. of course, supplemented by the inherent resiliency and tendency ofthe lower flexible bearing I6 to maintain the shaft I0 in verticalposition at al1 times.

The tub structure I9 is divided into two chambers 99 and 99 of which theformer is the washing chamber of the machine and the latter is thechamber utilized for counterbalancing off-center loads. Chambers 38 and39 are defined and formed by means of a double tub comprising an innertub 40 and an outer tub 4| concentrically arranged and fabricated to beconnected concentrically with respect to the vertical drive shaft I0 andto be rigidly supported and connected thereto.

The inner tub 49 is riveted at 42 to an annular coving 49 providing acentral opening 44 disposed beneath and in line with the opening 45 inthe cabinet I, clothing and other articles to be washed or removed fromthe machine being passed through the openings 44 and 45. Coving 49 hasan annular depending flange 49 which is adapted to engage a rubbersealing ring 41 carried by the upper edge 49 of the outer tub 4| so thatthe inner and outer tubs 40 and 4| through the sealing means 41 actuallyform a assai Jacket which has been previously donned as thecounterbalancing chamber 8l.

A plurality of vanes ll, Il and Il. as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, aresecured to the inner wall of the tub 4l and in spaced relationship aboutthe axial center of the tub Il and axially thereto. 'l'hese vanes may beseparate pieces or may be integrally formed to be secured by thefastening means II adjacent the bottom of the tub while the upper edgesof the vanes are provided with ears l! which coincide with and extendinto bulges or bosses Il shaped and formed to snusly receive the ears asbest shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It should also be noted that the outer tubIl is provided with a conical depending baille il connected with abearing ring 5l for engginggthe shaft il to provide further stabilitybetween shaft Il and the tub structure.

Referring to Fig. l, it should be noted that the inner tub III isprovided a plurality of openings Il adjacent the upper edge thereof andbeneath the annular coving Il. Openings I6 therefore form communicatingmeans providing passageways between the inner washing chamber of the'tub ll and the outer annular jacket chamber 3i. As seen in Fig. 2. aplurality of openings Il are located annularly in the bottom of theouter tub Il and substantially in the positionsV indicated in Pigs. land 2.

In the machine illustrated in Figs. l and 2. it is contemplated usingsix pounds of dry clothes and nine to ten gallons of water forperforming the washing cycle. It is further anticipated that theoscillation of the washing tub should be approximately sixty strokes perminute and the tub should oscillate in a sixty to seventy degree arc.Obviously, the number of strokes and the degree of oscillation are bothvariables but the f example given works well with a normal washing cycleof this kind. Also, during the washing operation, the opening 45 in thecabinet is normally closed by a suitable cover. While the tub isagitating the clothes through the action of the vanes 49, 50 and li. thewater and articles of clothing are washed in their normal fashion andany splashing out of the tub structure il is normally counteracted bythe downturned lip il of the coving 43 merely as a means to conserve'thesuds and wash water inasmuch as any water passing through the opening Ilor splashing therefrom will mereLv run over the sides of the tubstructure I3 and back into the sump or chamber 2l which is annularlydisposed in proper location as indicated in Fig. 1 for easily receivingand catching all of such accidently discharged water or suds.

During the washing cycle, it is obvious that counterbalancing will beunnecessary and that for all normal indications the rotationaloscillation of shaft iii and the basket or tub I3 will be about thenormal vertical axial center line of the shaft II. It is only during thehigh speed spinning cycle of the machine that unbalanced forces areencountered by reason of the unequal distribution of the articles ofclothing within the tub Il.

Assuming the tub isfully balanced, as would be the case in Fig. 1 withonly water therein with the water indicated by the reference numeral 63.the beginning of the spinning cycle will cause the surface of the waterto assume the parabolic shape shown in Fig. l with the water building upalong the outer peripheral edges of the tub 4l due to centrifugal force.Ihis action is accentuated by an upward nare of the walls of tub 6 Il.This brings the water to a level where it will spill through theopenings 56 and be ejected into the jacket or counterbalancing chamber3l `shown in Fig. l.

Attention is alsodirected to the chamber I! and its capacity forcarrying the counterbalancing fluid in relation to the load capacity ofthe tub. Such counterbalancing chamber must have a capacity to retainenough water by weight normally required to offset the maximum amount ofoff center load which could possibly occur during the normal operationof a tub loaded to capacity and throughout the spinning cycle. When thetub gradually begins to slow down thewater which has moved to the outerperiphery of the chamber 39 in tub 4I shown in Fig. l will graduallydrain downwardly through the openings 51 and will be thrown diagonallydownwardly and outwardly into the sump or chamber 2|! prior to thedraining of the tub 40. No drain means has been shown but any suitablevalve controlled mechanism may be provided for draining the tub 40 at apredetermined-time.

Whenever the articles comprising the load in the tub 4'0 are thrown oibalance, the center of gravity of such load shifts and shaft i0 is movedagainst the retarding action of the snubbing device 25 and against thenatural resiliency of its support and off of the normal vertical' axialcenter of rotation thereof. This will cause the upper end Il of theshaft i0 to gyrate through an orbital path as a natural accommodation ofthe oi center load. The water in the tub will be centrifugally passed orejected through the openings 56 by the vortex action obtained and shownin Fig. l, such water automatically spilling into chamber 39. The waterwill then concentrate in chamber 39 and occupy a certain arcuate portionthereof to counterbalance the uneven distribution of clothes in chamber40. v

It is to be understood that other modifications of the design andconstruction of the present washing machine are possible and thatequivalent mechanisms may be substituted in carrying out the principlesof the main concept of the inven-v tion; All such changes in the exactform, construction, and combination of parts, shall, therefore, begoverned by the language of the appended claims which define theinvention disclosed and described.

What we claim is:

l. In a washing machine, a casing having fluid outlets, a rotatable tubin said casing, a jacket surrounding said tub and having communicationtherewith for receiving iluid therefrom for counterbalancing unbalancedloads in said tub, a base secured to said casing beneath said tub, adriving shaft for said tub extending through said base, a spider havinga hub with a yielding bushing surrounding said shaft and having armsyieldingly connected to said base and friction pads between said armsand base.

2. In a washing machine, a casing, a tub mounted in said casing, adriving shaft secured to the bottom of the tub, means for mounting saidshaft for gyratory movements, a stationary base beneath said tub. meansfreely surrounding said shaft beneath said base and having armsfrictionally engaging said base and yielding means connecting said armsand base for the purpose set forth.

3. In a washing machine, a casing, a rotary tub mounted in said casing,means associated with said tub for counterbalancing unbalanced loads insaid tub, a stationary member secured to said casing beneath said tub, adriving shaft secured to said tub and extending through said member. ahousing surrounding said shaft adjacent said member, yielding bearingmeans betweensaid shaft and housing, arms extending from said housing,yielding means for attaching said arms to said member and friction padsbetween said arms and member. I

4. In a washing machine, a casing, a rotary tub mounted in said casing,means associated with said tub for counterbalancing unbalancedloads vlnsaid tub, a base member secured in said casing beneath said tub anddefining a sump chamber, said tub having outlets to said sump chamber, afiexiblebearing in said casing beneath said base member, a shaft havingits lower end seated in said bearing, said shaft extending through saidbase member and being connected to said tub, means for rotating saidshaftfor oscillating said tub, and snubbing means between said shaft andbase comprising a spider having a hub surrounding said shaft, a flexiblebushing in said hub, arms on said spider, yielding means connecting saidarms'with said base member and friction pads between said arms and basemember.

5. In a washing machine, a casing having fluid outlets, la rotary tubmounted in said casing,

.tion with said base member and yielding means @means associated withsaid tub for counterbaimechanism having yielding engagement with saidlshaft adjacent said base member and a drag relafor controlling theintensity of said drag.

CLAYTON F. EMMERT. lWILLIAM H. STOUDER.

The following references are lof record in the file of. this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 7,455 Fesca Jan. 2, i877198,346 Cairns Dec. 18, 1877 '766,261 Jebsen Aug. 2, 1909 1,483,326 BockFeb. 12, 1924 1,743,441 Dunham Jan. 14, 1930 2,375,635 Dyer May 8, 1945i Disclaimer Y. 2,534,194.-Ulayt0n F. Emmev't and William H. Stoudee,NeWtn,.-Iewa.

WASHING MACHINE. Patent dated Dec. 12, 1950. Disclaimer filed Dec. 17,1951, by the inventors; the assignee, Automatic Washer O'om` pany,agreeing and consenting. Hereby enter this disclaimer to cla-im 2 ofsaid pat/ent.

[Oficial Gazette January 15, 1.952.]

